An angel named Jolie and a devil named McVeigh make their way into the top ten this week, but Father's Day (#2) beats them both and Dragonball (#1) still reigns supreme.
GLAD DADS: Father's Day was more popular this year than last year, when it only reached #5. In another twist showing the increased number of Hispanic web users, roughly five percent of searches asked for Dia del Padre.
HE'S DEAD, TIM: After weeks of hovering below the Lycos 50, the execution of Timothy McVeigh (#3) finally makes its entrance, in a big way. Also making the Lycos 50 is Invictus (#50), the 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley that McVeigh cited as his last words.
Seven percent of twisted McVeigh searchers asked for execution video. Voyeurs were no doubt disappointed to discover that McVeigh's execution will not be featured on an upcoming episode of Jackass, as originally planned.
ANGELINA ZOOMA ZOOMA: Tomb Raider (#11) is hot, and Angelina Jolie (#6) is even hotter. The Rolling Stone covergirl and action star passed Pamela Anderson (#9) to be America's #1 "tattooed beauty in a difficult-to-explain, slightly frightening relationship."
This week, 32 percent of Tomb Raider searches specified the movie, and eight percent specified one of the video games. Contrast that to six months ago, when only eight percent of searches specified the movie and 52 percent specified the video games.
Tomb Raider is so hot that the character of Lara Croft (#49) even makes the list herself. For now, Lara has passed Jessica Rabbit for the title of "fictional character most people want to see naked." Although we should stress that none of us here at the Lycos 50 are among those people.
RUMORS ABOUND: Unlike the Eminem death rumor from December, the Britney Spears (#4) death rumor concocted by two Dallas DJs had little effect on the Lycos 50, accounting for fewer than one percent of Britney's searches.
Also having very little ripple, so far, are stories that Jennifer Lopez (#19) may be engaged to and/or pregnant by one of her backup dancers. J. Lo allegedly sent out notes to her closest friends this week asking them to save a specific date in late September or October. Rumors also say the skin-baring J. Lo is planning to be wed wearing just a strategically-wrapped shoelace.
(We're starting those rumors ourselves, actually. Feel free to pass them on.)
SCHOOL'S OUT: How can you tell schools are out for summer? Marijuana (#33) searches are dipping as they do during both summer and winter vacations. No school also means no history papers, so World War II drops off the list after 16 weeks.
MYSTERY TERM: We have no idea why the U.S. Postal Service (#44) returned to the Lycos 50 this week. After all, rates didn't go up again, which is why the post office made it last time. If you know why the Post is the most, please email us or comment on the Mystery Term clubs.
SHORT SUBJECTS: Despite the mediocre performance of golf messiah Tiger Woods, the U.S. Open (#13) finished in the same position on the Lycos 50 that it held last year? The shirtless Halle Berry is up to #14? Punk-poppers Blink-182 (#36) return to the Lycos 50 on the strength of their new album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket? The Game Boy Advance (#46) was released to stores last week, and we're surprised it doesn?t finish higher? Napster (#8) is at its lowest point since November? File swapper #5, iMesh, barely drops off the list at #51.
NEW THIS WEEK: Timothy McVeigh, U.S. Open, Blink-182, U.S. Postal Service, Game Boy Advance, Lara Croft, Invictus.
DROPOUTS: French Open, iMesh, World War II, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Christina Aguilera, Tupac Shakur (after 11 weeks).
BIGGEST RISE: Father's Day, up 32 places to #2.
BIGGEST DROP: 'N Sync, down 22 places to #35.
ONE YEAR AGO: The American Film Institute announced its list of the top 100 comedies of all time and reached #48. Last week, the AFI announced the top 100 thrillers of all time but only reached #59.
